Walled gardens and historic garden projects: Feasibility studies and business planning

Restoring or opening a walled or historic garden to visitors is one of the most rewarding and demanding types of heritage projects. The restoration phase alone is complex, and the operational challenges that follow require careful planning to ensure long-term sustainability. We are experienced in working alongside landscape architects, conservation architects and other specialists to navigate both. When done well, these projects leave a lasting legacy. They broaden access to heritage and the natural environment, support learning, improve health and wellbeing, strengthen local destinations, create jobs, and deliver meaningful environmental outcomes in the context of the Climate and Biodiversity Emergencies.

Gardens are often inseparable from the wider estates and landscapes in which they sit. We are drawn to projects with a strong narrative: sites where heritage and nature can be made accessible to diverse audiences, sometimes for the first time. We enjoy working with people who are passionate about bringing their places and collections to life — and we bring that same enthusiasm to the work.

Our experience

We have worked on a range of walled and historic garden projects, typically as part of wider masterplanning, feasibility, business planning, income generation or transformation commissions.

• Kirkleatham Walled Garden, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council: This Grade II-listed historic walled garden has been sensitively restored to incorporate a café, events space and productive gardens, alongside training opportunities in catering, hospitality and horticulture. We reviewed the business plan, assessed delivery and governance options, and carried out a soft market testing exercise. Find out more.
• Staunton Country Park, Hampshire County Council: As part of a £19 million country parks transformation programme, we prepared visitor experience development plans and supporting financial cases for five country parks. Staunton features a walled garden, a farm, and a tropical hothouse. Find out more.
• Houghton Hall Park, Central Bedfordshire Council: We prepared the business case to secure Lottery funding for this significant heritage project, which included reinstating key features such as the walled garden and kitchen garden, alongside the development of a new visitor centre. Find out more.
• Sewerby Hall and Gardens, East Riding of Yorkshire Council: We carried out a study to identify and evaluate opportunities to enhance the visitor experience across this key heritage destination, including its two gardens and wider parkland setting. Find out more.
• South London Botanical Institute: As sub-consultants, we were commissioned to develop a commercial strategy for this distinctive, community-rooted botanical institution. Find out more.
• Crathes Castle, Garden and Estate, National Trust for Scotland: We developed a visitor carrying capacity model for this outstanding Aberdeenshire estate, home to a 16th-century Category A-listed castle, important collections, a nationally significant walled garden, and extensive grounds. Find out more.
• Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council:  Carried out an economic assessment to repurpose an empty cottage adjacent to a former walled kitchen garden into self-catering accommodation.  The project secured development funding
• Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council: Carried out a feasibility study to introduce visitor accommodation within a walled kitchen garden
• Swindon Borough Council: Prepared visitor experience and income generation plans for Lydiard Country Park, which incorporates a walled garden

Both Kirkleatham Walled Garden and Staunton include horticultural operations linked to providing training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Clients have said a few words about our work

“Planning Solutions were commissioned to develop a Business Plan to assess viability and recommend an approach for a commercially viable Visitor Centre at Houghton Hall Park, Houghton Regis. The Business Plan formed part of a successful Heritage Lottery Fund Parks for People application for the improvement of the park. Planning Solutions fulfilled their commission with enthusiasm and commitment and worked well with other consultants and staff involved in the project. They had considerable prior experience working with visitor attractions and used this experience and knowledge to create a comprehensive Business Plan.” Kim Owens, Senior Fundraising Officer Central Bedfordshire Council

Added value – direct operational experience

We are also able to draw on the experience of our sister company, Planning Solutions Limited, who have over 25 years operational experience of running a number of heritage and other tourism businesses including Kent Life Heritage Farm Park, CONKERS, the National Brewery Centre (formerly the Bass Museum) and Cotswold Country Park and Beach. PSL has also acquired the William Worthington Brewery, which has been launched as the Heritage Brewing Company. The focus is on reviving traditional ales and beers.

Kent Life incorporates the Kentish Gardens from the ornamental herb garden through to the apple orchard, two farmhouse gardens which produce a range of seasonal fruit and vegetables and a hop garden which is planted with Fuggle and Goldings Hops, both traditional Kentish varieties from the late 19th century.

This operational experience enables us to understand the challenges faced by operators in managing and shaping visitor experiences and how to develop projects that are commercially viable, meet the needs of the visitor marketplace and community and respond to other needs such as education, learning, volunteering and placemaking.

Contact

If you feel we can be of assistance or would like to talk through an idea or plan please don’t hesitate to contact Richard Linington email richard@pslplan.co.uk or call 07866 742628.